According to Roberts, Glans wanted to search the car after seeing a rifle in the backseat while Fitch and Roberts were not present. Roberts told Photography Is Not A Crime that he and Fitch had shown their identification to Glans, and Fitch told the deputy that he had purchased the weapon legally.

The search allegedly ended when Fitch showed Glans his receipt for the rifle.

Chief Richard L. Castle said in a statement that Glans was suspended without pay after officials were alerted to the footage of his encounter with Fitch and Roberts.

“At this time this is an internal personnel investigation as there is no criminal complaint from the involved civilian,” Castle stated.

Glans was the subject of a $60 million lawsuit filed against both the county and the town of Wilton after he lost control of his patrol car and crashed into Douglas H. McEachron’s car in March 1996. Glans was driving at more than 60 mph at the time of the collision, three times the local speed limit. McEachron, a father of six, suffered a traumatic brain injury and lost his sight. One of his children was appointed as his legal guardian following the crash.

The Albany Times-Union reported in 1999 that the city and the county agreed to pay a $6 million settlement to McEachron’s family. Though a jury found Glans to be negligent, he was not required to pay any part of the settlement.

“If Doug had been in the sheriff’s deputy’s shoes, Doug would have been in prison now,” McEachron’s girlfriend, Melinda Dingley, said at the time.

About the Author

Arturo R. García is the managing editor at Racialicious.com. He is based in San Diego, California and has written for both print and broadcast media, including contributions to GlobalComment.com, The Root and Comment Is Free. Follow him on Twitter at @ABoyNamedArt